The 2024 worldwide signing interval opens on Monday, Jan. 15, and one solely want take a look at final 12 months’s Main League Baseball award winners to see how necessary discovering expertise on this market may be.
It may be a high-profile seven-figure bonus signing like Shohei Ohtani, signed in 2017 and now a two-time MVP, or extra of a low-key signing like Ronald Acuña Jr., who bought $100K in 2014 and simply gained his first MVP Award final 12 months.
There are scores of thrilling younger gamers who got here from different nations hoping to be subsequent in line in every system. Let’s check out the highest worldwide prospect in every group.
Blue Jays: Orelvis Martinez, SS/3B (No. 2/MLB No. 88)
The Jays have been massive believers in Martinez’s energy bat since signing him for $3.5 million again in July 2018, and whereas it’s been a roller-coaster profession at occasions, the right-handed slugger is trending again up after ending with 28 complete homers in 2023 and ending with a .263/.340/.507 line over 55 video games as a 21-year-old at Triple-A Buffalo. Martinez is trending towards the third-base nook, the place he might be an choice for Toronto within the first half of ’24.
Orioles: Samuel Basallo, C/1B (No. 5/MLB No. 46)
After years of sitting out of the Latin American market, the Orioles jumped again in and made a giant splash by signing Basallo for $1.3 million in January 2021, the most important bonus ever given by the Orioles, on the time, to a global prospect. He’s making it appear to be a discount, speeding up the High 100 and the organizational ladder, hitting his strategy to Double-A as an adolescent in 2023 and ending with a mixed .313/.402/.551 line for the season.
Rays: Junior Caminero, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 6)
Initially signed by Cleveland in July 2019, Caminero was moved to the Rays two years later in a deal for Tobias Myers and hasn’t seemed again since. Beneath Tampa Bay’s tutelage, he’s grow to be one of many Minors’ premier energy hitters, having hit 31 homers whereas slugging .591 over 117 video games at Excessive-A and Double-A in his age-19 season final summer season. Caminero earned a late-season cup of espresso with the massive membership to finish ’23 and must discover a spot someplace on Tampa Bay’s infield, however the sort of high-ceiling expertise ought to create his personal house within the season forward.
Crimson Sox: Ceddane Rafaela, OF/SS (No. 3/MLB No. 72)
Essentially the most versatile defensive prospect within the recreation, Rafaela is a plus-plus heart fielder, a plus shortstop and has dazzled elsewhere together with his mixture of quickness, instincts and arm power. Signed for $10,000 out of Curacao in 2017, he has an aggressive strategy that yields shocking energy for a 5-foot-9, 165-pounder and batted .292/.339/.499 with 22 homers and 39 steals between Double-A, Triple-A and Boston in 2023.
Yankees: Jasson Domínguez, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 74)
Hyped greater than any worldwide prospect ever, Domínguez signed for $5.1 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, reached the Majors at age 20 final September and homered 4 occasions in eight video games earlier than injuring his left (non-throwing) elbow and requiring Tommy John surgical procedure. He has the upside of at the very least plus energy with in any other case strong instruments throughout the board, and he hit .265/.373/.441 with 19 homers and 41 steals between Double-A, Triple-A and New York.
Guardians: Brayan Rocchio, SS/2B (No. 1/MLB No. 47)
Often called “The Professor” for his excessive baseball IQ, Rocchio signed for $125,000 out of Venezuela in 2017 and made his massive league debut final Could. A switch-hitter who affords good bat-to-ball expertise and high quality protection at shortstop, he batted .275/.355/.406 with seven homers and 25 steals between Triple-A and Cleveland.
Royals: Diego Hernandez, OF (No. 15)
Hernandez dislocated his proper shoulder in Spring Coaching and struggled offensively upon his return in mid-June, particularly when it got here to energy (.245/.302/.290 over 269 plate appearances at Double-A). The 23-year-old bought further enjoying time within the Dominican Winter League in October, November and December, and the farther he will get from the shoulder concern, the higher he might get with the bat. His plus-plus velocity, spectacular center-field protection and powerful arm would all be helpful in Kansas Metropolis every time the bat proves prepared.
Tigers: Hao-Yu Lee, 2B (No. 8)
Two years after he signed with the Phillies out of Taiwan for $570,000, Lee joined the Tigers in a Deadline deal for Michael Lorenzen this previous July. The suitable-handed-hitting second baseman’s profile is pushed by his bat between his clear swing, capability to work a stroll and burgeoning energy. Affected by a quad pressure after the commerce, Lee seemed nearer to himself within the Arizona Fall League and will push for the Minors’ higher ranges this summer season throughout his first full season as a Tiger.
Twins: Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 48)
One of many prime gamers within the 2019-20 worldwide signing class, Rodriguez bought $2.75 million to signal with the Twins. He actually jumped on the prospect map in 2022, with a 1.044 OPS in 47 video games in his full-season debut, however a torn meniscus ended that season in June. He was slowed by harm to begin 2023, however shook off a tough begin to publish a .927 OPS from June 1.
White Sox: Edgar Quero, C (No. 3/MLB No. 81)
Acquired together with lefty pitching prospect Ky Bush within the commerce that despatched Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López to the Angels final July, Quero is a switch-hitting catcher who’s extra superior offensively than defensively at this level. The Cuban gained Single-A California League MVP honors in 2022 earlier than making the soar to Double-A final season at age 20, when he hit .255/.380/.351.
Angels: Nelson Rada, OF (No. 3)
Nonetheless solely 16 when he signed with the Angels in January 2022 for $1.85 million, Rada made a robust first impression by hitting .311/.446/.439 throughout his professional debut within the Dominican Summer season League after signing. The Angels felt his contact-first strategy was strong sufficient to deal with a soar to full-season ball in 2023, and he responded with a .276/.395/.346 line and 55 steals whereas not turning 18 till the top of August. He has a 16.6 p.c Okay charge and a 13.3 p.c BB charge in his younger profession.
Astros: Luis Baez, OF (No. 2)
Baez landed the most important bonus ($1.3 million) within the Astros’ 2022 worldwide class when he turned professional out of the Dominican Republic. He matches the right-field profile together with his plus uncooked energy and arm power, and he batted .248/.357/.481 with 11 homers in 58 video games throughout his U.S. debut between Rookie ball and Single-A.
A’s: Luis Morales, RHP (No. 5)
Regarded as the highest pitching prospect within the 2023 worldwide signing class, Morales signed a 12 months in the past for $3 million after starring in Cuba’s Serie Nacional earlier than defecting. Whereas understandably introduced into professional ball slowly, his electrical stuff allowed the right-hander to begin his profession within the Dominican Summer season League and finish it with Excessive-A Lansing. He has a four-pitch combine, with a fastball that sits upper-90s and high-spin breaking stuff.
Mariners: Gabriel Gonzalez, OF (No. 3/MLB No. 66)
Since signing in Feb. 2021 for $1.3 million, the Venezuelan has made a robust impression with the bat. He posted an OPS of .892 within the DSL the summer season after he signed, then hit his strategy to full-season ball in 2022, ending with a mixed .321/.421/.468 line. In 2023, he crushed it with Single-A Modesto (.933 OPS) and struggled with a transfer up a stage, however that appears to be a sample, so don’t be stunned to see him grasp Excessive-A this season and transfer on.
Rangers: Sebastian Walcott, SS (No. 3/MLB No. 62)
Some evaluators imagine that Walcott might grow to be one of the best participant ever from the Bahamas, and his lofty ceiling earned him a $3.2 million bonus in 2023. He tasks to have effectively above-average energy and arm power and reached Single-A at age 17 throughout a professional debut during which he hit .246/.335/.471 with seven homers and 12 steals in 48 video games between three stops.
Braves: Ambioris Tavarez, SS (No. 8)
The Braves solely had half of their regular bonus pool to work with in January 2021 as they have been simply rising from the penalty field following their signing violations on the worldwide market. They gave a considerable amount of that bonus ($1.5 million) to Tavarez, who nonetheless has appreciable upside regardless of being slowed by thoracic outlet surgical procedure on his non-throwing arm in 2022 and a full-season debut in 2023 that confirmed he has numerous work to do on his strategy (40.8 p.c Okay charge).
Marlins: Victor Mesa Jr., OF (No. 6)
The son of legendary outfielder Victor Mesa — Cuba’s model of Rickey Henderson — Victor Jr. signed with the Marlins alongside together with his brother Victor Victor in 2018, receiving $1 million to his sibling’s $5.25 million. Victor Jr. has developed right into a much better prospect and started to develop into some energy in 2023, when he batted .242/.308/.412 with 18 homers and 16 steals in Double-A.
Mets: Luisangel Acuña, SS/2B (No. 1/MLB No. 38)
The Mets lined $35 million of Max Scherzer’s remaining contract to select up Acuña because the prospect return in final 12 months’s Deadline blockbuster. Initially signed by Texas for $425,000 in July 2018, the reigning NL MVP’s youthful brother is a profession .289 hitter within the Minor Leagues and has stolen 40-plus luggage in three straight seasons, topping out with 57 thefts between a pair of Double-A golf equipment in 2023. Whereas the ability nonetheless wants to come back, the 21-year-old might be the way forward for second base in Queens.
Nationals: Cristhian Vaquero, OF (No. 9)
With a $4.925 million bonus two years in the past, Vaquero signed the largest bonus of anybody within the 2022 class on the power of his five-tool potential. He reached Single-A Fredericksburg final season in his age-18 marketing campaign after hitting .279/.410/.393 with 15 steals in 42 video games in his stateside debut within the Florida Complicated League. Vaquero continues to indicate plus-plus velocity and powerful stroll charges however might want to begin turning his energy potential into in-game pop earlier than lengthy.
Phillies: Starlyn Caba, SS (No. 13)
Caba was top-of-the-line shortstops within the 2023 worldwide signing class and the Phillies have been ready so as to add him to the fold final January for $3 million. You by no means wish to give an excessive amount of weight to a debut within the hitting-friendly DSL, however the group is worked up about what Caba would possibly do stateside this 12 months. The switch-hitter hit .301 with a .423 OBP and 16 steals in 38 video games final summer season and confirmed sturdy potential at shortstop earlier than a left elbow harm ended his debut early.
Brewers: Jackson Chourio, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 2)
The $82 million man is the highest-ranked worldwide participant on this listing and for good motive. Chourio, who initially signed with Milwaukee as a shortstop for $1.8 million in January 2021, has put himself on the precipice of the Majors with top-of-the-line power-speed combos in prospectdom. His 22 homers and 44 steals in 2023 famously made him certainly one of solely 5 youngsters to take pleasure in a 20-40 season within the Minors since 1958 and the primary since Ronald Acuña Jr. in 2017. Even with a loaded Brewers outfield, he must be penciled in because the membership’s Opening Day heart fielder just some weeks after his twentieth birthday.
Cardinals: Leonardo Bernal, C (No. 10)
St. Louis signed Bernal for $680,000 out of Panama in January 2021 and bought aggressive with him a 12 months later, leaping him over the stateside advanced league and sending him straight to Single-A Palm Seaside for his age-18 season. The switch-hitter repeated the Florida State League final 12 months and noticed his stroll charge greater than double from 7.0 p.c in 2022 to fifteen.2 p.c in 2023. He’s thought-about a robust defender behind the dish, and that provides him a strong ground as he’s set to maneuver out of the Sunshine State in ’24.
Cubs: Kevin Alcántara, OF (No. 4/MLB No. 71)
Alcántara was the Cubs’ prize within the commerce that despatched Anthony Rizzo to the Yankees in 2021 and affords numerous intrigue as a 6-foot-6 athlete with the potential for strong instruments throughout the board. The Dominican spent most of final season in Excessive-A, batting .286/.341/.466 with 12 homers and 15 steals in 95 video games, and likewise noticed motion in Double-A and the Arizona Fall League.
Pirates: Tsung-Che Cheng, SS (No. 17)
Signed for $380,000 in 2019, Cheng is a Taiwanese center infielder who has flown below the radar as extra of a excessive ground sort of participant. However he hit his strategy to Double-A earlier than he turned 22 years previous and has hit .279/.375/.445 in his professional profession, stealing 59 luggage within the final two seasons mixed and exhibiting he has the power to play shortstop on the massive league stage.
Reds: Noelvi Marte, 3B/SS (No. 1/MLB No. 23)
Initially signed by the Mariners for $1.55 million when the 2018-19 worldwide signing interval opened, he was red-hot in Excessive-A in July of 2022 when he was despatched to the Reds within the Luis Castillo commerce. He performed his method throughout two ranges of the Minors and made a robust first impression in Cincinnati throughout his massive league debut in 2023, hitting .316/.366/.456, ending the 12 months with a large hitting streak and exhibiting consolation at a brand new place (third) whereas additionally serving to out at quick when wanted.
D-backs: Yu-Min Lin, LHP (No. 4)
Undersized at 5-foot-11 with a fastball that generally solely sits within the upper-80s, Lin – a $525,000 signing in December 2021 – is among the most fascinating Minor League southpaws due to his offspeed pitches and the rising motion on that heater. His low-80s changeup will get numerous swing-and-miss, and his low-80s slider and mid-70s curveball can every flash plus. It’s a kitchen-sink strategy that has helped Lin fan 231 batters over 177 2/3 profession Minor League innings.
Dodgers: Diego Cartaya, C (No. 3/MLB No. 56)
MLB Pipeline’s top-rated prospect within the 2018 worldwide class, Cartaya has earned Salvador Perez comparisons since signing for $2.5 million out of Venezuela. His finest attributes are his plus energy potential and arm power, however his inventory has taken a success after he batted .189/.278/.379 with 19 homers in 93 video games in Double-A final season.
Giants: Marco Luciano, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 26)
Luciano’s well-above-average bat velocity and energy made him probably the most engaging middle-infield prospect within the 2018 worldwide crop and earned him a $2.6 million bonus out of the Dominican Republic. A stress fracture in his again and a hamstring harm hampered him in 2023, when he hit .224/.334/.425 with 15 homers in 88 video games between Double-A, Triple-A and San Francisco.
Padres: Ethan Salas, C (No. 1/MLB No. 5)
Salas joined the Padres for $5.6 million as the highest prospect within the 2023 worldwide class and nonetheless managed to beat expectations in his first season, skipping over the advanced leagues fully and leaping from Single-A to Excessive-A to Double-A as a 17-year-old. He attracts sturdy opinions for his defensive work as a catcher, each with the glove and arm, and his hit and energy instruments challenge as above-average. San Diego is infamous for getting aggressive with its prospects, generally to the staff’s detriment, however it’s seemingly attainable Salas might be within the bigs as an adolescent.
Rockies: Adael Amador, SS (No. 1/MLB No. 21)
Amador was the largest acquisition for the Rockies when the 2019-20 worldwide signing interval opened, getting $1.5 million to check in July 2019. He made his professional debut stateside in 2021, hitting .299/.394/.445 within the ACL, then adopted that up in 2022 with an .860 OPS in full-season ball. He was raking to a .304/.391/.514 line in Excessive-A when he was shelved with a damaged hamate. Amador did make it again close to the top of the 2023 season and bought his ft moist in Double-A, a stage he might take by storm this 12 months now that he’s one hundred pc wholesome.